THE first female diocesan bishop in the Church of England, Rachel Treweek, will formally begin her new role as the Bishop of Gloucester this September.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend a special event in Gloucester Cathedral to mark the occasion, which will begin at 4.30pm on Saturday, September 19.

During the service Rachel will be presented with her pastoral staff and will be placed in her bishop’s chair by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, the Venerable Sheila Watson, on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Rachel will also preach her first sermon in Gloucester as the bishop.

The new bishop will be consecrated as the 41st Bishop of Gloucester at Canterbury Cathedral on July 22 but the September service will mark the formal start of Rachel's ministry in the Diocese of Gloucester.

“I am delighted that my inauguration service is finally in sight and I am looking forward to it with joyful anticipation and immense excitement," said Rachel. "It is my hope that the service will resound with thanksgiving for what has been and hopeful expectancy for what is yet to come, as we journey together into the next chapter, rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.”

During the service, Rachel will be welcomed by the Dean of Gloucester, the Very Revd Stephen Lake. He said: “This will be a great day for the cathedral and everyone in Gloucestershire."

Before become bishop of Gloucester Rachel was a curate at St George and All Saints, Tufnell Park before becoming the Vicar of St James the Less, Bethnal Green in 1999. She was appointed as Archdeacon of Northolt in 2006 and before being appointed the Bishop of Gloucester was the Archdeacon of Hackney, a role she had since 2011.